Magnetically activated controls for toys



Aug. 16, 1966 w. FELSHER 3,266,187

MAGNETICALLY ACTIVATED CONTROLS FOR TOYS Filed Dec. 26, 1962 1mm- ATTORbYS United States Patent 3,266,187 MAGNETICALLY ACTIVATED CONTROLS FOR TOYS William Felsher, 8512 Fayette St., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Dec. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 247,014 2 Claims. (Cl. 46239) This invention pertains to action toys of the type where a toy operating circuit, including a self-contained source of electromotive force, provides animation, self-propulsion, and/or operates various signals such as noise makers and lights. More particularly, it pertains to magnetically activated controls for causing initiation of such action and for determining the length of time for which such action will continue.

Battery operated toys are becoming increasingly popular with advances in technology and increased sophistication of toymakers. Yet despite the fact that such toys are provided with a wide variety of means for animation, propulsion, and signaling the controls have remained relatively primitive. Often such controls are nothing more than a manually operated on-off switch on the toy or incorporate-d in a container for batteries which is connected by a wire to the animated toy.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide magnetically activated controls for toys.

Another object of the invention is to provide magnetically activated switches for use in toys which are rugged, cheap to manufacture, and simple in operation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide electronic time delay means for use in connection with magnetically activated controls so that action of the toy continues for a predetermined time.

An additional object of the invention is to provide electromechanical time delay means for use in connection with magnetically activated controls for toys which will permit continued operation of the toy for a predetermined time.

Other objects of the invention are to provide magneticallly activated controls for toys of the character described which are easily and economically produced, sturdy in construction, and highly efficient in operation.

These and other related objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a magnetically activate-d toy dog embodying the invention and its related action-initiator.

FIGURE 2 represents a fragmentary detail, in section, showing a magnetically responsive switch of the inven tion, as used in the toy of FIGURE 1, in open position.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary detail similar to FIGURE 2 showing the same switch in closed position under the influence of an action-initiator, which is also shown.

FIGURE 4 is a section through a switch useful in the controls of the invention, shown in open position.

FIGURE 5 is a section showing the switch of FIG- URE 4 in closed position under the influence of an actioninitiator, which is also shown, partially cut-away.

FIGURE 6 is a circuit diagram, partially diagrammatic, showing one embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a circuit diagram, partially diagrammatic, showing another embodiment of the invention adapted to produce an electronic time delay.

FIGURE 8 is a circuit diagram, partially diagrammatic, showing still another embodiment of the invention adapted to produce an electro-mechanical time delay. I

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, it will be observed that the magnetically activated controls of the invention comprise a magnetic initiator or activator, generally designated A;

normally-open magnetically-responsive switches generally designated B; toy operating circuits generall designated C; trigger circuits generally designated D and time delay means generally designated E.

Considering now FIGURE 1 we observe an action toy, generally designated 10, in proximity to a magnetic actioninitiator A. In the figure the toy 10 is a dog. In keeping with the spirit of the invention, the action-initiator A, which includes a permanent magnet 11, insulated and concealed by wrapping 12 and provided with distal ends 13 is made to resemble a bone. Were the toy figure a rabbit, the action-initiator could be disguised as a carrot; were it an antique automobile the action-initiator could be disguised as a manual crank; were the toy an elephant the initiator could be a gaff of the type used by a mahout.

In any event, the nature of the action-initiator should preferably bear a definite and natural relationship to the nature of the action toy.

The switch B, which is responsive to fields of magnetic force emanating from the initiator, is concealed in an appropriate portion of the toy. As shown in FIGURE 1, the switch is in this case, concealed within the dogs muzzle.

Suitable normally-open magnetically r e s p o n si v e switches B are shown in FIGURES 2 to 5 inclusive and are respresented diagrammatically in FIGURES 6 to 8 inclusive. The switch in FIGURES 2 and 3 comprises a first spring blade 14, preferably made of paramagnetic material and a second blade 15, preferably made of electrically conductive non-magnetic material such as copper. These blades are held in place in the toy by a stud 16 made of non-magnetic non-conductive material and the same stud, if desired may serve to keep them in spacedapart electrically-insulated relationship as shown in FIG- URE 2. Alternative spacer, mounting and insulating means may be used. In this figure the switch is open an}? the blades 14 and 15 are not in contact with each 0t er.

In FIGURE 3, however, due to the proximity of actioninitiator A from which a field of magnetic force emanates, the paramagnetic blade 14 has been drawn into electrical and physical contact with blade 15. Lead or wire 17 is connected to blade 14 and a similar lead or wire 18 is connected to blade 15.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show another normally-open mag netically responsive switch suitable for use in the controls of the invention. This switch is encapsulated in a glass envelope 19 which permits ease of mounting within the toy figure and also protects the blades from mechanical damage and corrosion. Resilient conductive blades 20 and-21 are provided which are kept in insulated, normally spaced-apart relationship by internal plugs 22 and 23 which may be made, for instance, of a ceramic material. One or both of these blades'may be made of paramagnetic material just as in the case of the switch described in connection with FIGURES 2 and 3. Further, both blades may be made of magnetic material and oppositely polarized. Such polarization tends to keep the blades in spaced-apart relationship and yet, the field emanating from action-initiator A, when itis in proximity to the switch as shown in FIGURE 5, overcomes the fields of the blades and allows them to come into contact with each other. i

In FIGURE 4 the switch is shown in open position and in FIGURE 5, under the influence of the action-initiator A, the blades are in contact and a circuit exists between wires 17 and 18. Other suitable normally-open magnetically responsive switches for use in the invention are described in the 1961-62 Catalogue published by Tech Publishers Inc. of Hempstead, N.Y. on page 1462 thereof. Thus, the switches that have been described and which are shown in the figures are merel exemplary.

FIGURE 6 shows a typical toy operating circuit of the invention which may be activated by an action-initiator including a permanent magnet. The circuit includes a motor 24 which when in operation, produces motion, animation and the like. The motor shaft 25, or mechanical extensions thereof, may also be used to activate cam switches 26 and 27. These switches which are closed electrically for only a portion of a motor revolution are used to activate signal devices such as light 28 and noisemakers, for instance, bell 29. As is well knovm in the art, movement produced by the motor 24 may be sequenced with noise controlled by cam switch 26 and lights controlled by cam switch 27 to give very realistic effects. As shown in FIGURE 6 the operating circuit also includes a self-contained source of electromotive force 30. Still referring to FIGURE 6, when an actioninitiator including a permanent magnet is brought proximate switch B, the switch closes in response to the mag- H netic field of force emanating from the initiator. It stays closed and the action circuit is operative only so long as the initiator is proximate the switch.

In FIGURES 7 and 8 the operating circuit C includes a separate normally-open switch and separate means are provided for closing the switch in response to a field of force emanating from the action-initiator. Considering first FIGURE 7 it will be observed that a trigger circuit D is provided. This is essentially a series circuit including a normally-open magnetically responsive switch B, a relay coil 31 and a self-contained source of electromotive force 32. The operating circuit C is provided, in effect, with a normally-open switch in the form of contacts 33 which are operatively associated with relay coil 31. As shown, these contacts are closed and the operating circuit C is therefore energized. Such a condition will obtain when switch B in the trigger circuit is closed. However, this circuit also embodies electronic time delay means, in the form of a capacitor 34, which is wired in parallel to relay coil 31. Closure of switch B, therefore, will not only energize coil 31 to activate circuit C but will also charge capacitor 34 from voltage source 32. When switch B is opened (i.e. upon removal of the action-initiator from its vicinity) the current stored in capacitor 34 will discharge through relay coil 31 keeping it energized, and its associated contacts 33 closed, for a predetermined length of time, which is a function of the capacitance of the trigger circuit D.

Other suitable time delay means, of electro-mechanical nature, are exemplified in FIGURE 8. In the circuit time delay means E is a time delay switch. A suitable switch is fully described in Patent No. 2,990,460 which issued on June 27, 1961. Briefly, such switches are mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis which may conveniently be defined by mounting trunnions 35. The switch includes a network of tubes partially filled with conductive fluid. Restrictions are provided in the tubes so that time is required for the fluid to move from one position (where a connection is made) to the drained position (where connection is broken). The switch is activated by arcuate motion about the axis defined by trunnions 35 which displaces the conductive fluids. Such time delay switches are normally-open and require mechanical activation before the start of their period of conductivity. Such mechanical motion is provided, in this instance, by trigger circuit D which is a simple series circuit including a source of electromotive force 32, a normally-open magneticaly responsive switch B and a solenoid coil 36. Obviously, sources 32 and 30 can be one and the same sources and consequently, hereinafter, the term self-contained source of electromotive force, when used in connection with operating circuits having associated trigger circuits, is intended to mean either a separate source for each circuit or the same source. Operatively associated with solenoid coil 36 is a plunger 37. As is customary in the solenoid art this plunger is adapted to reciprocate in the coil and is provided with travel limits and is preferably spring loaded. Plunger 37 is connected to time delay switch E by linkages 38 which are appropriately designed to impart arcuate motion to the switch about the axis defined by trunnions 35. The switch of Patent No. 2,990,460 is merely exemplary of electromechanical time delay switches which may be used in connection with the invention.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied and its extent, consequently, is to be determined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Magnetically activated controls for toys comprising an action-initiator including a permanent magnet; a series trigger circuit within said toy including a normally-open switch, a source of electromotive force, and a relay coil; a capacitor electrically paralleling said relay coil; said switch comprising a first resilient blade connected to one side of said series circuit, a second resilient blade connected to the other side of said circuit, and means for keeping said blades in spaced apart and electrically insulated relationship; a toy operating circuit within said toy including a self-contained source of electromotive force and normally-open contacts, operatively associated with said relay coil, which close to activate said circuit when said coil is energized; a magnetic field of force emanating from said initiator closing said normally-open switch to energize said relay coil and cause closure of the contacts in said toy operating circuit, said relay coil remaining energized after withdrawal of said initiator until said capacitor has discharged.

2. Magnetically activated controls for toys comprising an action-initiator including a permanent magnet; a series trigger circuit within said toy including a normallyopen switch, a source of electromotive force, and a solenoid coil with which is associated a plunger adapted to reciprocate as the solenoid is energized and de-energized, said switch closing to energize said coil and cause movement of said plunger in response to a field of magnetic force emanating from said initiator; a toy operating circuit said toy including a self-contained source of electromotive force and a normally-open time delay switch; a linkage connecting said plunger and said timedelay switch, movement of said plunger by energization of said trigger circuit causing said time delay switch to close and current to flow through said operating circuit, said current flow continuing for a predetermined time after current cease to flow in said trigger circuit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,663 6/ 1956 Lemelson 46-226 2,990,460 6/1961 Worth et al. 20033 3,002,067 9/1961 Baldwin et al. ZOO-87 3,190,037 6/1965 Giordano 46232 X OTHER REFERENCES Radio-Electronics publication, April 1961, page 51 (TK6540, R24).

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Examiner.

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

1. MAGNETICALLY ACTIVATED CONTROLS FOR TOYS COMPRISING AN ACTION-INITIATOR INCLUDING A PERMANENT MAGNET; A SERIES TRIGGER CIRCUIT WITHIN SAID TOY INCLUDING A NORMALLY-OPEN SWITCH, A SOURCE OF ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, AND A RELAY COIL; A CAPACITOR ELECTRICALLY PARALLELING SAID RELAY COIL; SAID SWITCH COMPRISING A FIRST RESILIENT BLADE CONNECTED TO ONE SIDE OF SAID SERIES CIRCUIT, A SECOND RESILIENT BLADE CONNECTED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID CIRCUIT, AND MEANS FOR KEEPING SAID BLADES IN SPACED APART AND ELECTRICALLY INSULATED RELATIONSHIP; A TOY OPERATING CIRCUIT WITHIN SAID TOY INCLUDING A SELF-CONTAINED SOURCE OF ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE AND NORMALLY-OPEN CONTACTS, OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID RELAY COIL, WHICH CLOSE TO ACTIVATE SAID CIRCUIT WHEN SAID COIL IS ENERGIZED; A MAGNETIC FIELD OF FORCE EMANATING FROM SAID INITIATOR CLOSING SAID NORMALLY-OPEN SWITCH TO ENERGIZE SAID RELAY COIL AND CAUSE CLOSURE OF THE CONTACTS IN SAID TOY OPERATING CIRCUIT, SAID RELAY COIL REMAINING ENERGIZED AFTER WITHDRAWAL OF SAID INITIATOR UNTIL SAID CAPACITOR HAS DISCHARGED. 